Muffler for internal-combustion engines



Dec. 14, 1948. e. v. JOHNSON- MUFFLER FOR'INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Original Filed Dec. 31, 1943' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 14, 1948. e. v. JOHNSON MUFFLER FOR INTERNAL'CbMBUSTION ENGINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 31, 1943 E va/L607? Geozye fJo/irzfiorz/ Patented Dec. 14, 1948 MUFFLE'RFOR INTERNAL- C MBUSTION ENGINES George Johnson, Portland, Oreg., assignor to Hyster'Company, Portland, oreg a corporation of Oregon Original-applicationDecember 31, 1943, Serial No. 516,405. Divided and this application August 17., 1945, Serial No. 611,082

3,Cla'ims.' 1

The present invention relates to mufflers for internal combustion engines, and is particularly concerned with a muffler construction adapted .to be utilized upon automotive vehicles of the lift truck type.

This application is a division of my prior application Serial No. 516,405., filed December 31, 1943, for Lift trucks, which has now. .issued as Patent No. 2,387,077, dated October 16, 1945.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved type of mufiler for internal combustion engines, which is so constructed that there is assurance that no sparks will issue from the exhaust which passes through the mufiler, yet which has a minimum amount of back pressure and which accomplishes a satisfactory mufllling of the noise of the engine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved muflier for internal combustion engines which is simple in construction andwhi'ch may be embodied as a part of the chassis of a lift truck so that it may be manufactured at a minimum cost.

Another object of the invention is the (provision of an improved muffler for internal combustion engines which is very simple, including only a receptacle with a body of extinguishingliquid, such as water, an inlet pipe which directs the exhaust gases toward the surface of the water. and an outlet pipe located remote from the end of the inlet pipe.

Another object of the invention is the provision or an. improved of the :class. described which is simple, capable of economicalnonstruction, adapted to be used for a long period of time without repair or replacement of its parts, and which absolutely assures that no sparks will issue from the exhaust pipes.

Another object of the invention is the p110- vision of an improved liftv truck chassis structure which includes a built-in pair of ,mufiiers'for the internal combustion engine by means of which all sparks issuing from the exhaust =are extingii'mhed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the followin description and. the accompa y g drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate :similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the two sheets of drawings accompanying this specification,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view in partial section, showing a lift truck equipped with an internal combustion engine and with a mufiler embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the lift truck;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View, taken on the plane or'thesline l-i3 oi'Eig. 2. looking in the direction of thearrows.

Referring to Fig. 1., I10 indicates in its entirety a lift truck embodying my invention. In this lift truck the chassis is. indicated at .l 1. and the chassisis provided wtih a pair oi front driven wheels l2, l3 and :a rear steered wheel 14. The structure of the rear steered wheel mechanism is preferably as disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,337,109, issued December 2.1, 1953. They chassis isxpnovided with an internal combustion engine I5. for driving the vehicle, and at its front end it carries .a suitable upright framework 16, which is provided with an upwardly telescoping frame l7. -by meanslof which it may be extended.

The telescoping framework l6, 11 carries a vertically movable carriage I8 with a pair of load" arms I19, by means, of which a load may be lifted, the load" :being retained by tilting the upright frame .to the right hand dotted line position shown in .Fig. 1.

The chassis of the vehicle is preferably made of .cast met-a l, such as cast steel; and at its. rear end the chassis is provided with a vertically extending. bearing 20, which supports a vertical trunnion carried by the counterweight 2| which carries the steered wheel M.

The outer portion of the chassis may comprise a lot-side panels 22 joined at the front by a transversely extending frame member 44 which also serves as a floor board and joined at the rear by a vertically extending partially cylindrical end wall .45. At the top and to the rear of the frame member '46, the side panels 22 are also preferably joined by 23 top panel 46; The side panels 22 carry a pair of muiller receptacles 23, 24 that form an integral part of the chassis. The .muiller receptacles 28, 24 maybe substantially rectangular in side and end-elevation and in-plan, except that the rear end has a filling extension 25', with an opening closed by a filling plug 2 6.

Each of the muffler receptacles or housings 23, 24 is thus provided with a bottom wall 23!, a pair of side walls 28, '29, and a top wall 30. Each side wall is an integral part of each side panel 22. Thus, each side panelse-rves as one outer wall of the chassis andalso as one side wall of each muiiler receptacle. Each receptacle also has a front wall 3| and rear wall 32.

Exhaust from the internal combustion engine is preferably connected by means of an exhaust pipe to the mufiler; and in the present case the engine has a pair of exhaust pipes, indicated at; 33, 34, extending from the two banks of cylinders to the Each outlet pipe extends upwardly and is 4 joined by a top panel, each of said side panels carrying a mufller housing integrally formed therewith comprising side walls, bottom wall, and top wall, each of said side panels serving as one outer wall of the chassis and also as one side wall'of each muilier housing, said housing containing a predetermined amount of extinguishing liquid, an exhaust pipe extending into The level 33 of the liquid 40, such as water, in-

each muffler is preferably kept substantially below the open ends 38 of the exhaust pipes.

The operation of the mufller is asfollows: exhaust gases, carbon sparks, etc. are discharged from the open end 38 of the exhaust pipe at high The velocity directly toward the free surface of the water 40. Any burning particles are driven into the water and extinguished.

As the exhaust gases at high velocity pass out of the pipes 33, 34 into the exhaust chamber 35, these gases are permitted to expand freely into the larger space provided, and the velocity energy is dissipated in this chamber. Successive waves of pressure are created in the chamber, which are discharged through the tail pipes 42, 43 to atmosphere, and is found that the noise of the explosion of the engine is substantially mufiled by the use of this structure.

Due to the use of water there is practical assurance that no sparks will pass out of the tail pipes, and the construction is also so arranged, with the tail pipes at the top, that Water is not blown from the mufiler, thus permitting the use of the muillers for a longperiod of time without refilling.

The explosive energy of the gases coming from the exhaust pipes is also absorbed in blowing or splashing the water about, which also tends to absorb the noise, somewhat like a resilient cushion, since the free surface of the Water may be depressed momentarily by the force of the exhaust gases at each explosion.

vThe present muifler construction is simple, yet it is very effective. It requires very little attention. It may be used for a long period of time without necessity for repair or refilling. Necessity for refilling immediately becomes evident from the increased noise when the water has all been used up by evaporation. Sparks are all extinguished. By means of this structure the present lift truck may be used with absolute safety in warehouses and other enclosed spaces where inflammable materials may be present.

- While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I laim as new and desire to secure by Letters atent of the United States, is:

1. In an automotive vehicle the combination of a chassis provided with a pair of side panels said housing into proximity with the free surface of said liquid, and a. tail pipe extending out of said housing adjacent the top thereof.

' 2.In an automotive-vehicle the combination of a chassis provided-with a pair of side panels joined by a top panel, each of said side panels carrying a rnufiler housing integrally formed therewith and comprising side walls, bottom wall,

. and .top wall, each of said side panels serving as one outer wall of the chassis and also as one side wall of each mufiler housing, said housing containing a predetermined'amount of extinguishing liquid and having an exhaust pipe extending into said housing toward and into proximity-with the free surface of said liquid and having atail pipe extending out of said housing adjacent the top thereof, said exhaust pipe opening at substantially right angles to the free surface of'the liquid, whereby burning particles and sparks are directed into the extinguishingliquid.

3. In an automotive vehicle the combination of i a chassis provided witha pair of side panels joined by a top panel, each of said side panels carrying an integral'muiller housing comprising side walls";

bottom wall, and top wall, each of said side panels serving as one outer Wall of 'the chassis and also as an upper support for each muffler housing, said housing containing a predetermined amount of extinguishing liquid and having an exhaust pipeextending into said housing'into proximity with the free surface of said liquid and having 'a tail pipe extending out of said housing adjacent the top thereof, said exhaust pipe opening at substantially right angles to the free surface of the liquid, whereby burning particles and sparks are directed into the extinguishing liquid, said mufilers'being mounted adjacent the rearof the chassis, and said muiiler housings being provided with an upwardly open filli opening ng.

closure therefor.

GEORGE V. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in'the file of this patent:

Great Britain 1884 

